Mills & Reeve: 90% Autumn 2026 Retention for Largest NQ Cohort

• Mills & Reeve retained 26 of its 29 qualifying trainees in autumn 2026, achieving a 90% retention rate.
• This cohort of 29 trainees represents the largest group of qualifiers in the firm's history.
• The retained newly qualified solicitors will be distributed across six UK offices, with Cambridge welcoming eight.
• Eight NQs will join the Corporate and Commercial team, and another eight will join the Employment department.
• Newly qualified solicitors at Mills & Reeve earn £63,000 in regional offices and £84,000 in London.

The robust Mills & Reeve autumn 2026 retention figures reflect the firm's ongoing investment in its junior legal professionals.

Mills & Reeve has successfully concluded its autumn 2026 trainee retention process, announcing a strong outcome for its qualifying cohort. The firm achieved a 90% retention rate, securing permanent positions for 26 of its 29 final-seat trainees. This particular group of 29 individuals represents the largest qualifying cohort in the firm's operational history, marking a significant milestone in its talent development strategy. The robust Mills & Reeve autumn 2026 retention figures reflect the firm's ongoing investment in its junior legal professionals.

Crucially, all 26 newly qualified solicitors who have been retained will join the firm on permanent contracts. There are no reports of any fixed-term arrangements among this group, indicating a clear commitment to long-term integration for these new lawyers. This approach underscores the firm's confidence in its trainee program and its strategy for building a stable and experienced workforce across its various practice areas.

The newly qualified solicitors are set to be strategically distributed across six of Mills & Reeve's United Kingdom offices, illustrating the firm's national footprint. The Cambridge office will integrate the largest number of NQs, welcoming eight new lawyers. Birmingham follows with five, while the London, Manchester, and Norwich offices will each see four new solicitors join their respective teams. The Leeds office will also gain one newly qualified solicitor, ensuring a broad geographical spread for this cohort. These placements are integral to strengthening the firm's presence in key regional markets.

In terms of practice area allocation, the retained cohort will significantly bolster several core departments. Both the Corporate and Commercial team and the Employment team will each welcome eight new solicitors, highlighting areas of substantial client demand. The Disputes practice group is set to be joined by six NQs, and the Insurance department will integrate two. Additionally, the Family and Private Client departments will each receive one newly qualified solicitor, completing the detailed Mills & Reeve 2026 qualifier statistics for departmental placements.

The impressive Mills & Reeve NQ retention rate of 90% for autumn 2026, while strong, represents a marginal decrease when compared to the firm's performance in the preceding year. In autumn 2025, the firm reported a 92% retention score, successfully retaining 23 out of its 25 final-seat trainees. Despite this slight variation, the firm consistently demonstrates a robust commitment to its trainee pipeline, regularly offering a substantial number of training contracts each year.

According to data compiled by Legal Cheek, Mills & Reeve typically provides approximately 30 training contracts annually, indicating a steady intake of future legal talent. Upon successful qualification, newly qualified solicitors at the firm are offered competitive compensation packages. NQs based in the firm's regional offices receive an annual salary of £63,000, while those joining the London office are compensated at a higher rate of £84,000. These figures offer valuable insight into the firm's remuneration strategy and its position within the broader context of UK law firm trainee retention.

This article reports on a UK law firm's trainee retention statistics, which has no direct practical implication for a lawyer or compliance officer in Africa regarding legal practice or compliance duties.

Source: Original reporting via Legal Cheek.